The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-11

| Every thing is cheering and attractive, and
would be more so if the vultures only did their
| work conseientiousiy. Decidedly
| they not good mechanical eweepers.
At ST. Augustine there are but one two
steam saw mills. a cigar factory and turpen-
| tine distillery. The town is more commercial
| than industrial and exports imports molas-
ses. cereals. cotton. indigo gums, timber, fish
| and salt. At ordinary times the harbor is busy
| enough with the arrival or departure of steam
| ers employed in the trade and passenger service
to the different parts of the ocean and the Gulf
| of Mexico.
ST. Augustine is the seat of one Of the six
courts of justice existing in Florida. It's only
means of defence are solitary fort-Fort
| Marion, or st. Mark built in the Castilian
| style of the seventeenth century. Vaubon or
| Cormontaigne would doubtless have made very
little of it. but it is admired by archaologists
and antiquaries for it's towers and bastions, and
demilune and machicolations, and its old guns
and mortars, which would be more dangerous
for those that fire them than those they are fred
against.
1t was this fort which the confederate gar
rison had hurriediy abandoned at the approach
of the federal fotlia- although the government.
few years before the war, had improved it's
means of defence. After the militia had left the
inhabitants of st. Augustine had voluntarily
submitted to Com odore Dupont, who occupied
the town without blow.
The proceedings against the Spaniard, Texar
had made much noise in the county. It seemed
as though there at last to be end to the
strife between this suspicious individual and
the Burbank family. The abduction of the lit
tie girl and Zermah was calculated to intensity
the PUBIC opinion, Wnlcn na0 pronounced en-
phatically in favor of the planter of Candies
Bay There could be doubt that Texar
the author of the crime. But it would be curl
GUS to see how he would get out of the charge,
and whether he would get off, as he had always
done before
Excitement threatened to be great at st.
Augustine The propretors of the neigh boring
plantations crowded in The matter was OF
great interest to them personally. of the
charges referred to the overrunning and pillace
of Candies Bay. Other plantations had also
been ravaged by the Southerners, and 1t WAS
important know how the federal govern
ment would look upon such crimes against the
common welfare. though perpetrated under
cover of politics.
The chief hotel in St. Augustine the City, had
accommodated a goodly number of visitors
whose sympathy was entirely with the Burbank
family, and it could accommodate a great many
more. And, for hotel, there could be no more
appropriate building than this huge sixteenth
century house, the old home of the corregidor,
with its puerta, principal door. covered with
carvings its sola or room of honor, its interior
court with the columns garianded with passion
flowers, its verandah, on to which opened the
most comfortable rooms with their wainscotiug
hidden under the brightest colors of emerald
and golden yellow, its miradors the walls in
Spanish fashion, its leaping fountains and smil-
ing grass pats, all in vast inclosure, the high
walled patio.
There it was that James and Gilbert Burbank
and Mr.. Stannard and his daughter, accompan-
led by Mars. had taken up their abode the even
ing before.
After their frutless Journey to the prison at
Jacksonville, James Burbank and his son re-
turned to Castle House When they learnt that
Texar refused to answer any question about Dy
or Zsrmah, the family felt their last hope van
ish, although the news that Texar would have
answer TO military justice for his doings at
Candles Bay was some consolation. In view
of a sentence which he could not escape, the
Spaniard would doubtless break silence when it
was necessary for him to treat for his liberty or
his life.
In thismatter Alice Stannard would be the
principal witness. She had been at Marine
Creek when Zermah had shouted Texars name
and she had recognized the scoundrel in the
boat which bore him away. She had come TO
St. Augustine, and her father and his friends had
accompanied her. After dinner. the 10TH
they had hidden farewell to Mrs Burbank and
Edward Carol. One of the steamboats, had en-
barked them at Candies Bay, and landed them
at Pcolata, and thence stage-coach had brought
them along the winding road, through the oaks
and expresses, aud plantains, which here abound.
Before midnight comfortable hospitality had re-
ceived them in the apartments OF the City Ho-
tel
Texar had been abandoned by his friends as
might be imagined. His partsans chiefly
among the smaller planters, all of them embit-
tered slave holders. Knowing that they would
not have to answer for any of the troubles at
Jacksonville. his companions resolved to rally
round their old chief. Many OF them had come
to st. Augustine. 1t is true that It was not in
the patio of the City Hotel that would look
for them; but there were many of them in the
inns in the town, in the siendas where the half
bred Spaniards and Greeks sell everything that
can be eaten. drunk of smoked. There these in
dividuals of low origin and equivocal reputation
lost no opportunity of protesting in TeXars ia
vor.
Commodore Dupont was not at St Augustine.
He was away the blockade. But the troops
landed after the surrender of Fort Marion were
in firm possession of the city. There was no
movement to be feared on the part OF the South
erners of the militia, who were retreating on the
other side of the river. If the partisans of Texar
attempted any rescue, they would De immedi-
ately put down.
One of the gunboats had brought the Span
lard to Picolata, and thence he had been brought
o,A al oHA ix,0 af fhn
cells in the fort. from which escape was impossi-
BILE. AS he had demanded a trial. he was not
likely to attempt an escape. His partisans were
aware of this If he were condemned this time,
they would see what they could do to help him,
but till then they would be quiet.
IL the absence of the Commodore. Colonel
president of the court appointed to try
Texar in one Of the rooms of Fort Marion. This
was the Colonel who had assisted at the capture
of Fernandina, and it was at his orders that the
prisoners captured from the train by the Ottawa
had been detained for forty eight hours, fact
which is here important to notice.
The court martial opened at IL o'clock in the
morning A numerous public filled the room.
Amongst the nosiest Of the crowd were the
friends and partisans of the accused.
James and Gilbert Burbank. Mr.. Staunard
his daughter and Mars occupied the place
served for the witnesses. There seemed to be
defense No witnesses were apparently to
be called. Did the Spaniard scorn all evidence,
or had he found it impossible to bring any TO his
help2 It would soon be known. Anyhow, there
seemed to be no doubt as to the issue of the
affair.
An indefnable presentiment had seized upon
James Burbank. Was it not in this very town
that he had before prosecuted Texara Had not
he, then, by an lncontestable allDl, ESCAPED
from justicea
AS soon as the court martial seated Texar
was brought in He sat down coolly and quietly.
Nothing seemed to be able to disturb his natural
impotence. A smile of disdain for his judges
a look full of assurance for the friends he recog
nized in the room, look of hatred for James
Oh baS Cd cotf opdVy cd
for Colonel Gardner to begin.
The interrogatories began in the usual way.
ssYour name? asked Colonel Gardner.
'Toxar"
ssYour age2"
saThirty five"
"Where do you live?"
sat Jacksonville: at Torlo's tienda."
Il want to know your usual abode"
81 have none."